Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL – WEEKLY ROAD REPORT


REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2022

Miller’s Wynd – closed until 26 December 2022 at its junction with Hawkhill for major construction works.

Guthrie Street (Brown Street to West Marketgait) – closed for one week for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.

Brown Street (at Douglas Street) – temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 22 November for 2 weeks for Scottish Water work.

Riverside Drive (approach to Tesco service roundabout) – nearside westbound lane closure on Friday 25 November for Scottish Water work.


The Big Cushion Push #dundeewestend


Next week, we’ll be highlighting a lot of the forthcoming West End Christmas Fortnight events with Christmas Fortnight starting next Saturday – 26th November.

In advance of that, we’d like to highlight this excellent initiative as part of the fortnight, with thanks to Antonia Burnett who writes :

“I have an interior design business based in the West End of Dundee and I have teamed up with another interior designer to organise a cushion sale to raise money for Dundee & Angus Foodbank.  

We will hold the sale at Logie & St John’s (Cross) Church Hall on Saturday 10thDecember from 11am to 5pm.  We will be selling new cushions, second hand cushions and also fabric remnants for people that might want to make their own cushions. 

We have already been receiving donations from curtain makers and local businesses but we are now putting out a call to the general public to ask for donations of good quality second hand cushions.  The Fabric Mill Dundee has kindly offered to act as a drop off point for donations.”

Please support this excellent initiative – you can read more at : 

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087173013302



Getting things done – Blackness Avenue #dundeewestend

Residents have over a period of time asked for better crossing facilities well up Blackness Avenue from the pedestrian crossing at the Hawkhill junction.

Although there are significant vehicle movements, the number of pedestrian crossings means that that part of the street would not meet the criteria for a light-controlled pedestrian crossing.
We therefore requested consideration of the provision of an additional pedestrian refuge island to allow pedestrians to break their crossing half way across the busy street.
We are pleased to say this was agreed to and the Senior Engineer – Traffic & Road Safety at the City Council has updated us as follows :
“Here is the location of a pedestrian refuge island you had requested a while back within the area.

After a good bit of investigating on a location this one the most suitable.”

We have marked it with a red X on the plan below. 


It will be just north of the junction with Lytton Street and is now being programmed into the future works programme. 

Feedback from the residents who raised this has been very positive, so a good outcome.



Future of the Blackness industrial area #dundeewestend


In line with the requirements of the council’s Local Development Plan, back in 2019, city council planners consulted on a proposed Design Framework for the future development of the Blackness General Economic Development Area.

This covers the industrial area north of the Hawkhill by-pass to Lochee Road running from West Marketgait in the east to Lower Pleasance in the west.

The framework was subject to a six week consultation, including a drop-in event at Verdant Works that Fraser attended, in the heart of the area.

The concept was to unlock the potential of the area to bring vacant, derelict or underused land and buildings back into productive use, as well as improving employment opportunities and productivity.

We recently asked for an update on progress since the adoption of the Design Framework as we are anxious to see progress with this.

The council’s Head of Planning and Economic Development has responded as follows :

“When approved in 2019, the Blackness Business Place Plan sought to encourage new development opportunities to help regenerate this industrial area. The Plan facilitated more use diversification and generated positive discussions with building owners, developers and architects regarding the redevelopment of several buildings.

Unfortunately, Covid19 did impact on development interest. However, you will be aware that some mixed-use student accommodation projects did progress and were granted planning permission during April 2021 for 63 Brown Street and November 2021 for 56 Brown Street).  Whilst no building works have commenced so for, the 63 Brown Street project has recently applied to discharge their planning conditions, which is a sign that development may proceed.  

In addition, we have a planning application for no.9 Guthrie Street as well as several proposals that are pre-application discussion stage.

Significant progress has also been made with the City Centre Strategic Investment Plan, which was recently reported to City Development Committee.    A major aim of the plan is to strengthen links between the city centre and surrounding areas by improving pedestrian connectivity and active travel routes.

These medium to long-term interventions will take time to design and deliver, but should make further improvements to the Blackness area by making it more integrated with the city centre, particularly via the Guthrie Street/Ward Road axis.”



City Church’s Community Café and Larder #dundeewestend

Today – and every Thursday – City Church’s Community Café and Larder is open – from 11am-2pm.


Come along for homemade soup & cakes and to pick up some groceries!

This takes place at The Friary in Tullideph Road.